NEW LONDON, Conn. – First years Gianna Garofola and Cainen Avery combined to go 4-for-6 and drive in six runs at the plate as the Keene State College softball team bounced back from a tough walk-off loss to post an 11-8 win over Mitchell College in six innings on Wednesday at Alumni Field.  The host Mariners overcame a 3-0 deficit with two in the fifth and two in the seventh to take the opener.

Four of the duo's six RBI in the second contest came in the opening inning as KSC (7-4) stormed out to a 4-0 lead right away, but Mitchell (7-9) answered with four of their own on a two-run single and an error after the frame began with two walks and a ground out before Haley Westfal's two-RBI grounder into left.  The Owls seemed like they would get out of the inning up two on Emma Boisseau's grounder to third, but a miscue brought home two more runs as the Mariners again responded just as they did in the opener with two after KSC took a 3-0 lead in the fifth.

But unlike the first contest, the Owls hit back, retaking a 5-4 lead in the second as Kalle Halvorsen was hit by a pitch to begin the inning, stole second, and then moved to third on Avery's single before scoring on a wild pitch.  The game-changing inning, though, came in the fourth as Keene State put up a five-spot to take a 10-4 lead.  Lily Mandel began the uprising with a double to left center on a 3-2 pitch before Anna Gostkowski beat out a bunt single to put runners at the corners.  Halvorsen followed with an infield single that scored a run to make it 6-4, and Elyse Picard then roped a base hit down the left field line to plate Gostkowski.  Abby Weiterman's double to center tacked on two more to make it 9-4, and Avery's sacrifice fly then put KSC into double-digits for the fourth time this season and second time in the last three games.

The Mariners made a final push, making it 10-7 after Olivia DeCicco's two-run single with two down in the bottom of the fifth, but Weiterman walked on four pitches to start the sixth before eventually scoring on an RBI single by Garofola.  Mitchell got the run back in the bottom half, but ran out of daylight, with Jaelyn Boretti striking out Madison Cole to end the game.

Avery and Garofola each went 2-for-3, while Garofola also added a walk.  Each drove in three runs, while Gostkowski – who teamed up to comprise the top three in the other – was 2-for-4 and scored twice.  KSC finished with three doubles and stole five bases.

Megan Strzegowski (2-0) got the win in the circle, allowing eight hits and seven runs (five earned) with six walks.

Tess Frager (0-2) took the loss for Mitchell, allowing five runs (four earned) and four hits in 1.2 innings.  The Owls took eight walks and did not strike out in the nightcap.

It was an important offensive bounce back after KSC stranded nine people on base in the tough opening loss, including the bases loaded in the top of the first.  The game remained scoreless until the fifth when the Owls broke out to a 3-0 lead as Gostkowski and Halvorsen began the inning with singles before Picard laced a double to left to plate both.  Weiterman's grounder later in the inning scored Picard, but Mitchell notched three straight hits with two outs in the bottom half to get right back within one on DeCicco's two-run double.

Still nursing a one-run lead into the bottom of the seventh, the Owls seemed to be in good position when Olivia Souers whiffed Cassandra Roman to begin the inning, but Zoe Battersby was plunked to put the tying run on base and DeCicco moved her into scoring position while also putting the winning run on base.  Brooke Clancy then hit a 3-2 pitch into right to load the bases with one out, and Kaylee Drago walked it off with a two-run single down the left field line as KSC was handed a stunning loss.

"Shay Webb pitched a great first game, but in the end, we left too many people stranded on base on offense," said KSC head coach Haley Chandler.  "The second game was a good reset.  The offense came out much stronger so we could support our pitchers and secure a win."

Webb allowed two earned runs over six innings while walking three and striking out four in the opener.  Souers (1-1) took the loss after entering in a save situation.

DeCicco allowed three runs and seven hits over five innings for Mitchell, walking three and striking out five.  Christian Aneiro (2-1) then pitched two one-hit innings to set the table for her team to be able to walk it off.

Gostkowski finished 4-for-7 on the day and now has six multi-hit efforts over the first 11 games of her career.  Halvorsen has a hit in all but one game and is hitting .513 (20-for-39) while Picard is at .467.

KSC is back at it Friday afternoon when they travel to Smith College (5-4) for a doubleheader that begins at 2:00 p.m.